[laughingwithmykids]

Hello mamas,
Glad to be on MDC -- I just signed up specifically to ask for this help. I'm new to the Wheaton area, and I'm expecting my fourth baby in December (HOORAY!). I need info on pregnancy and birth care.
So, here's what you should know about me....

1) I'm on a Bluecross HMO, which I think limits my options?
2) most people here deliver at Central DuPage Hospital, far as I can tell
3) I had my last babe at a midwife attended, in-hospital birth center. Waterbirth. This is my ideal.
4) What are my options????!!!!

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide!

 

[lulutattoo]

It's not the closest to you, but would be well worth the extra distance, but I recommend West Suburban Midwives in Oak Park who deliver in the ABC rooms at West Suburban Hospital, which is one of the only hospitals in the area that does "real" waterbirths (not just labor in the tub). There's also a couple other midwife groups that work out of the ABC rooms there too, but I'm not sure which ones.

 

[pomegranatedoula]

I also recommend West Suburban midwives!

I don't know how you feel about home birth, but Hillary Kiesner CNM does home births and water births. She was one of the founders of the West Suburban Midwife Associates and now runs her own home birth practice.
Here is her website -- http://www.gentlebirthcare.com

As far as water birth in your area, that's all I know of!

 

[DoulaMichelleIL]

Congratulations! Midwives Karen and Noreen out at Rush Copley in Aurora offer waterbirths. I've attended one with them and it was beautiful!

:

 

[katiesmom]

I second Noreen and Karen at Rush.
I delivered there a couple of years ago, and they were great!

They offer bath tubs, and they knew I didn't want meds, and I didn't get any.
The baby never leaves your side either. The nurse I delivered with was a homebirth nurse, and she was awesome. I loved the whole experience.

They are a bit of a drive, but not too bad.

 

[Xerxella]

Just a word of caution, CDH has one of the highest C Section rates in the area.

I would 2nd the recommendation of West Suburban. I hope to be having a VBAC there any day now. I'm in Elmhurst. My niece had her 1st (a natural birth w/ the midwives) at Rush and was pleased. But, she's having her next in October at home with Homefirst.

Good luck!

 

[koru]

I agree with the above recommendations and to add another, Alexian Brothers in Elk Grove Village is natural birth friendly with a group of midwives who deliver there.

I've also heard good things about the midwives at Hinsdale Hospital but I've never attended a birth there so I can't compare. I also don't know if they have water available (which is a necessity, in my doula mind

).

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Very exciting! Thankfully you have a lot of time to continue asking around, talking to various midwives & finding the right fit for you.

 

[wildlavender]

Happy to have found this thread, as I am due in January and looking for a new midwifery practice. I've had great recommendations for both West Suburban Midwives and Rush Copley Midwifery. I would like to add that my dd was born at Alexian Bros, and we wouldn't choose to birth there again. Although I LOVED my midwife (no longer with the practice of midwives that births there) I had terrible experiences with the nurses that attended to us after dd's birth. Nothing nice to say about our stay at Alexian. Hoping for better this time around!